Truths About Being a Teen Driver

Your sixteenth birthday. The birthday we all count down to and can’t wait for it to happen. When we are little, all we can think about is our sixteenth birthday and how free we are once we are able to drive a car all by ourselves. On this day you get a sense of freedom and the feeling of “you’re not just a kid anymore.” However, that is false; you are still a kid but now have more responsibility than ever. You are the one behind the wheel and responsible for your safety as well as anyone else who may be in the car.

 

Teen driver safety is a huge public issue because teens are still just learning many life skills that impact driving. It is a known fact that our brains are not fully developed until we are at least twenty-five years old. Therefore, teens are still learning many skills, like judgment of when you should go or stop, awareness of others on the road and how their actions can affect you, as well as just experience and time behind the wheel because, believe it or not the more times you drive, the better you’ll get, which pretty much anything is that way in life. Many say, “Practice makes perfect,” which is 100% true when it comes to driving. Drivers’ education is a course required to get your driver’s license. Many teens feel that the information is common sense and just scroll on their phones rather than paying attention. However, driver’s education plays a huge role in your ability as a driver because you are learning from an experienced educated driver that shares their experiences and how to avoid certain situations. I remember when I did driver’s education my teacher shared a story about a time she got in an accident at a specific intersection near my home all because of another driver running a light. After hearing my teacher’s experience, I was able to learn to trust your own judgment because you cannot control what others do on the road.

 

Most of the time when teens are driving, they typically are with their friends. Many teens find it more enjoyable to drive around with their friends blasting loud music. It is hard for most teens to stay focused in general, and when there are other people involved there are just even more distractions for the driver. Sometimes when you’re with your friends you want to try to show off and do things like speed or swerve back and forth for “fun.” But those things can be very dangerous and potentially harm others. A way to avoid distraction caused by your friends is to just focus on the road and try your best to not let them dictate your driving. Technology is also a major distraction for the teen generation because technology is used so much in our lives that we think looking down at our phones to answer a text or change the music just for one second won’t harm anyone. When that one second could cost someone their life. A way to avoid distractions from technology can be very simple by either putting your phone out of reach or even in do not disturb mode, and you can also use the voice command option if you must respond to someone. Lack of experience can also be a challenge, but the easiest way to overcome that is simply by just practicing. Drive extra with your parents, and trust me you will feel a lot better and safer about driving.

Personally, I am eighteen years old and have been driving on my own for almost two and a half years now. I constantly drive on the expressway, which for most teens they try to avoid because it can be intimidating. However, I would say I have learned the most driving skills from driving on the expressway. When you’re driving on the expressway there’s no time for checking your phone because there are many curves that you have to anticipate and be ready for. When you’re more alert, you drive better and are ready for anything. I have also been able to learn people do not drive good. No matter their age. Some drive too fast, too slow, distracted, or overall, just badly. However, when you drive alongside other cars going the same speed as you, when you see someone make a poor decision or just drive badly, you can just learn from their mistakes and ensure you do not do the same.

 

I think one way teens can help promote safer driving amongst other teens is simply by looking out for one another and making sure we’re safe. Whether it’s just a “Hey, put your phone down” or “Hey, you need to focus more.” By simply looking out for one another we are helping one another drive safer and keep each other safe. Also, I think schools can offer a more interactive way of learning safe driving with hands-on learning rather than just boring classroom learning, where truthfully not many are paying attention. When learning is hands-on, there is a much higher chance students pay attention and actually learn how to drive safely. Communities can also help promote safe teen driving by promoting those little slogans throughout the area like “Buckle up!” or “Better late than never.” These little slogans around communities will catch teens attention and make them think about it and convince them to drive safely and responsibly.

 

Overall, the freedom of driving on your own comes with great responsibility and when misused, can become very dangerous. That is why it is important for teens to understand the responsibility of driving and overcome the challenges of driving. It is more important than ever to look out for one another on the road so we’re all safe from the dangers of the road.